Sexual Attraction

The Truth About Your Period and Who You're Attracted To

Everything you thought you know about hormone-fueled impulses might be wrong.

The Truth About Your Period and Who You're Attracted ToEverything you thought you know about hormone-fueled impulses might be wrong.

iStock/Thinkstock

We've been told time and time again that our preference in men is guided by "that time of the month." Previous research suggested that during ovulation, we're hot for the rugged, manly type, while we prefer gentler, fatherly men at other points in our cycle. This weird association was blamed on our fluctuating hormones shifting throughout the month. But the influence of our hormones might be completely overstated, according to a new study published in the journal Emotion Review.

Researchers from the University of Southern California completed a review of 58 previous experiments to see if the claims about hormonal preference stood up. Most of the studies linked hormone fluctuations to preferences for masculinity, dominance, physical symmetry, kindness, or health. But when researchers paid attention to the methodology of these studies—especially if a woman's hormonal changes were actually measured or if her cycle was self-reported—they found them unreliable.

"We found very little effect for hormonal cycles on mate preferences," explained lead study researcher Wendy Wood, Ph.D. Instead, "most of the studies showed that women tended to like masculine men and dominant men and healthy men, no matter what point in the cycle they were at." Women also preferred men who were kind (because, obviously, who doesn't like a nice guy?) regardless of where they were in their cycles.

That said, hormones may play some role in your attraction, but it's not as simple as being more drawn to Joe Manganiello-types around day 14 in your cycle. "It's certainly a complex interaction between the culture that you're in and your hormonal reactions to a particular guy," says Wood. "It's not a simple relationship, but more of an interactive one."

Of course, your preferences can change over time, but over the course of a month, those preferences probably stay pretty stable. It's not like you'll be attracted to strong jawbones one day and doe-eyes the next. So rest assured, your cycle isn't calling all the shots when it comes to your sex life.